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September 21, 2008
Expanding the electoral map
Expanding the Electoral Map: Four strategies for rebuilding parties and empowering voters
This is MVC's fringe at labour conference, tonight (sunday 21) at 8pm, at the Arora Hotel, 20 Princess Street, Manchester.
So what is it about? What debate are we trying to achieve?
There are twin dynamics at work currently, and for much of the past decade:
1) Labour retreat - losing members and voters, targeting ever smaller
numbers of people and geographic areas
2) voter disengagement and disatisfaction with the way politics works
We need to look at how we can expand the electoral map again: make people feel they are relevant and listened to, compete for votes in many more areas, (and this is for labour but it applies to other parties too) build up the party base and become a truly national party, especially in terms of representation, again.
Away from the academic, desk-bound Government reviews and proposed technocratic or 'sticky plaster' fixes, there are practical solutions, tested in parts of the UK / world, which might help to boost party activity and to re-engage voters with electoral politics.
The idea of this fringe is to explore some of these strategies, hearing from people who have been at the coal-face of their implementation and/or experienced how they have operated in their native land, and see what can usefully be applied to this country, and to Westminster in particular.
This isn't a dragon's den 'in or out', 'either or' situation. Some of the ideas which will be put forward by our speakers are complementary and could be introduced together, or cherry-picked for a constitutional reform package. Others involve more of a choice between them. But hopefully the ideas put forward will trigger further discussion and debate, both at this Conference and after.
Here's the line up:
JAG SINGH (MESSAGESPACE)
‘50 State Strategy’ - on lessons from the Obama and Clinton campaigns.
PAUL SMITH (AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY ABROAD)
‘Playing by Aussie Rules’ - on a broad constitutional reform package
JENNETTE ARNOLD AM (CHAIR OF THE LONDON ASSEMBLY)
‘Londoners Votes Counted’ - reflections on increased diversity, turnout and party activism.
STEPHEN PURCELL (LEADER OF GLASGOW COUNCIL)
‘Scottish Local Government Experience’ - on offering choice and strengthening connections with voters.
The event is chaired by Stephen Twigg. It is open to all, and is followed by a reception at 9.30pm.
Posted by malcolmclark on September 21, 2008
